Police Commission Votes Against Red Light Cameras

The Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners voted Tuesday morning to get rid of the red light cameras at intersections. 

The issue, however, must still be voted upon by the Los Angeles City Council.

There are 32 red light cameras throughout the city and local cameras are located at the intersections of Manchester Avenue and Airport Boulevard, Pico Boulvard and Bundy Drive and Sepulveda Boulevard and National Boulevard. (View the attached maps to find other locations).

This is a major victory for Jay Beeber, a member of the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council, who has been campaigning  against the use of the cameras. Beeber was clearly pleased with the outcome of today's vote.

"The commissioners decided that the red light cameras at intersections did not make traffic any safer. They also said the millions of dollars spent on the program was not worth the money," said Beeber, after coming out of this morning's hearing.

"There was also the issue involving Arizona, the company providing the camera system, American Traffic Solutions, is based in Arizona and the City Council has voted to boycott Arizona based businesses," added Beeber.

But the cameras were rejected by the commission on the merits of the issue and not the Arizona aspect, said Beeber.    

Beeber plans to make his case when the matter is heard by the full city council.

"More than 75 percent of the tickets people get, which end up costing $500, involve situations where the motorist is simply making a rolling right turn on a red light, and they are being ticketed for running the red light, which is wrong," added Beeber.

"Further, there's no proof the cameras actually reduce accidents, or make traffic any safer. And it's costing millions," he added.

All five members of the Board of Police Commissioners voted to end the red light camera program.

"I feel good, that we won this battle," he said after the hearing.

Los Angeles City Controller Wendy Greuel in September released an audit that found the 32 cameras had not been placed at the city's most dangerous intersections. The audit also found no conclusive evidence that the red light photo program increased public safety.